Wake Forest Shakes Off Vmi, 92-63

Third-ranked Wake Forest broke the ice Sunday after a preseason filled with high rankings and hype.

“My biggest challenge has been keeping these guys’ minds sharp - I don’t think I’ve done a very good job of it,” Wake Forest coach Dave Odom said, after his team’s 92-63 season-opening win over Virginia Military.

Odom plans to find out more about the character and work ethic of his team in the next week and a half as the Demon Deacons, who have matched the highest ranking in school history, embark on a grueling five-game, 10-day schedule to open the season.

Jerry Braswell hit a career-high five 3-pointers as Wake Forest, with VMI packing a variety of zones around Tim Duncan, showed its outside prowess early on.

Braswell, showing no ill effects from a broken left foot sustained in September, nailed three straight long-range shots in the game’s first 5 minutes, and finished 5 for 7 from behind the arc for 17 points - 15 in the first half.

Duncan, the only unanimous pre-season All-American selection, warmed up in the second half and finished with 18 points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots for his 10th straight double-double and 59th of his career. , VMI (1-1) was 3 for 15 from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes and fell behind 44-24 at the half.